Help Others.org: I Wish You Enough -- A Kindness Story

--posted by brighteyes on May 10, 2007

At an airport I overheard a father and daughter in their last moments together. They had announced her plane's departure and standing near the door, he said to his daughter, "I love you, I wish you enough."

She said, "Daddy, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Daddy." They kissed good-bye and she left.

He walked over toward the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?" "Yes, I have," I replied.

Saying that brought back memories I had of expressing my love and appreciation for all my Dad had done for me. Recognizing that his days were limited, I took the time to tell him face to face how much he meant to me. So I knew what this man was experiencing.

"Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?" I asked.

"I am old and she lives much too far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is, her next trip back will be for my funeral, " he said.

"When you were saying good-bye I heard you say, 'I wish you enough.' May I ask what that means?"

He began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." He paused for a moment and looking up as if trying to remember it in detail, he smiled even more.

"When we said 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with enough good things to sustain them," he continued and then turning toward me he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright. I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more. I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive. I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger. I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting. I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess. I wish enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Good-bye."

He then began to sob and walked away.

[ Original story by Bob Perks, in Chicken Soup For the Grieving Soul ]

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Reader Comments

115 comments: page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12

Bob Perks wrote: Regarding mike's comment. "she turned into a he. " i am the author of this original piece. It has always been a father daughter story until someone wrongfully changed the gender. I witnessed the and wrote "i wish you enough. " sadly the plagiarized version is the one you reference and most people know. Visit http://www. Iwishyouenough. Com

tandan wrote: Thanks for the inspiration. It is hard and heart breaking to say the final goodbye.

Cindee wrote: I have read this before and it is so beautiful it gets me every time. Saying goodbye is probably the hardest thing in the world for me. This just touches me so.

Saroj wrote: Thanks for such a great inspiration. It is extremely difficult to say good bye to someone so dear to you.

BETTY wrote: It just teaches us that time is precious and should be spent wisely. Namely, be nice to each other and live life as if it is your last day. Perhaps then we just may have peace in this world.

Tom wrote: This is a great piece of writing. I applaud the author.

We are forever looking for ways to express ourselves, and deal with the emotional content we experience.

Nuances, such as the above, give us the option to approach these experiences with a versatile mind.

Be it a gesture, or a familiar word, this story has reminded me to connect personally, and privately with those dear to my heart.

I wish you all enough

blufindr wrote: This story made me tear up. Thankfully, or unfortunately (you choose), i've never had the experience of making the final goodbye. But i will keep it in mind to wish them enough in our farewell.

Abigail Lynch wrote: This was a great story. I cried for a min.

Diana wrote: Beautiful story. Thanks. :)

Diana wrote: Thank you for

(devoted to brandon. )

Thank you for all the gifts you’ve given me.

Thank you for all your understanding.

Thank you for all your caring for me.

Thank you for living.

Thank you for all the love you’ve given me.

Thank you for all the memories.

Thank you.

Thank you for being someone i adore.

Thank you for all your support.

Thank you for always being there.

Thank you for all the good you’ve shared.

Thank you for all your smiles.

Thank you for all the happy days.

Thank you for having faith.

Thank you for all good times you’ve made.

Thank you for all your teaching.

Thank you for all your reaching.

Thank you for knowing me.

Thank you for believing in me.

Thank you for all the good you say.

Thank you for all your loving ways.

Thank you for all the good you do.

Thank you for being you.

-diana lynn neiderhiser © 2002.

I Wish You Enough

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